Improvement in floor-coverings



W. HOWELL, J. a. FINN & 0.1;. DUY.

FLOOR COVERING- No. 82,119. Patented Sept. 15, 1868.

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WILLIAM HOWELL, JAMES (J. FINN,

AND CHARLES-A. DUY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Snecificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 32,119, dated September 15, 1868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'we, WILLIAM HOWELL,

James .0. FINN, and CHARLES A. Dov, of-the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and 1111- proved Material wherewith to Cover Floors; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, .referenee being had to the accompanying drawand increase the durability of the covering.

We thus make a covering which may be laid down on floors, like oil-cloth, and of much more durable character, and at a very cheap rate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of apieceof the improved covering laid down on a floor. Fig. 2 is an edge view of a piece having a cloth foundation,and a layer of paperbetween it and the first layer of veneers. Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the except-ionof the cloth foundation.

Like letters in all the figures indicate the same parts.

We will proceed to describe our mode of manufacturing-the covering: We sew together muslin or other chcapfabric, to make a piece of any desirable length and breadth. This we stretch on a frame, in the usual manner of stretching cloth adapted for other purposes. We then paste or cement to this foundation paper over its Whole surface that is to be covered with veneers of wood, and, after the cement has become dry, we paste or cement a. thin layer of veneers, with the grain of the wood running all one way. Afterward we unite in the same manner a second layer of veneers, of handsomely-grained wood, laying the pieces with their grain crossing the grain of the first layer, so as to give strength and firmness to the covering. We either put the secondlayer on in straight pieces, or cut.

them of any desirable form and pattern to give ornamentation to the covering. When the ocmenting becomes thoroughly dry, we finish the face by oiling or varnishing, in the usual manner of varnishing woods, thus producing a covering that may be readily put down in the manner of oil-cloths, and of great beauty,

while its durability far exceeds that of the latter.

When desired, plain woods, of difi'erent colors, may be cut and arranged for the second layer, to represent tiles, and for a tithe of the expense of the latter.

We prepare the covering for transportation by cutting it in breadths about two feet, or other desirable width, and cover their edges with paste or cement, which, when moistened and laid tight together on the floor, rare firmly united, and do not show the joints.

We sometimes make the covering direct on the floor, as represented in Fig. 1; biit, for transportation, it has to be made in the manner described, and it is better to leave the foundation or cloth on. Yet, when cheapness is an object, the cloth maybe removed, to be used over again.

When we intend removing the cloth, we usually use a thicker paper. than when it is to remain on.

In Fig. 2 an edge view of the covering is represented, in which the cloth foundation or groundwork is retained. Fig. 3' represents a piece with the cloth removed from the paper la er.

We sometimes make the pattern with a third layer of wood.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to claim, broadly, a compound fabric composed of veneer and paper; but

We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As a new manufacture, a covering for floors, &c., consisting of layers of cloth, paper, and

wood, combined as set forth.

In testimony that-the above is our invention we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals this 18th day of February, 1868.

WILLIAM HOWELL. L. S. JAMES C. FINN. L. S. CHAS. A. DUY. [in 8.]

Witnesses:

STEPHEN Usrrcx, J OHN WHITE.

TENT OFFICE. 

